Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-01
LOST IN THE FIRE.
BY MRS. II. III. MILLER.

impatiently upon his pillow
"But you are insured" said his wife,
with pale face, "you Will not lose every
thing"
sIt isn't the office care for" answered
Mr.. Lord, ''but packase of papers, very
valuable, intrusted TO my care" and he
groaned again.
''But won't the safe protect them?"
cried Mrs. Lord eagerly.
'sThat's the worst of it," said Mr.. Lord,
in voice husky with emotion. "They
should be in the safe, but my half-dazed
state OF the day 1 was taken i'll, l neglect
ed to put them there; they are in my
desk, and the only comfort [ have had
since l could think was that it has good
lock, and have the key-but now!"
''Are they SO very valuable, then?"
$50 precious that if they are burned I
shall be disgraced; it will be dishonor
if I am unable to produce them. It is
objectionable that I should not have
secured them; il will kill me. [ feel that
it will! Oh! if could only move! or Her
bert were here!"
''Can't do something!" eagerly asked
his wife.
tNo indeed! From what Mr.. Brown
tells me the streets are filed with mob;
no lady would be safe IL them for an in
slant. She would be robbed, If not
worse Herbert might perhaps find a
way TO get them, and to save his fathers
honor, if not also his life. I'm sure he
would. O, how can | 1--we and let them
burn!"
Listening breathlessly with white face
to this talk, stood Grace Lord, who was
just entering the room when her father
spoke. A thought had crossed her mind,
and plan had grown IN these few
seconds.
"Why can't save those papers?" was
the thought, and II will" was the conclu-
sion, as her father ended.
Softly turning away from the open
door, she stole back up stairs to her
room.
IT can go as welHas Bert" she whisper
ed TO herself. 81 know where paya keeps
his keys, and know just where his desk
is in the Office. I can run down there be-
fore mamma misses me, and how happy
papa will be. He said the streets were
not safe," was the next thought, "but he
said boy could go. I'll put on Bert's
Clothes" flashed into her mind.
Without stopping to think more about
it, she ran into her brothers room, found
an outgrown suit in the closet, sIipded off
her outer garments, and put on those,
snatched a last years hat from shelf,
and waiting only to get her fathers keys
out of pocket In his clothes which hung
in hall closet, she opened the street
door, and was gone. It was noble and
generous impulse, but it was a fearful
thing to do.
This happened in Chicago, during the
terrible fire that burned that city seventeen
years ago. It was early on Monday morn
ing; the South Side was already roar
ing furnace, and the North Side, in WATCH
my story lies, was even then on fire.
When Grace turned the corner into a
much used street, she was appalled,, and
for an instant turned back. 1t was filed
with a crowd of the people hurrying by,
with fear, horror and other strange pas
sions in their faces, Some were loaded
with household goods or treasures they
hoped to save others carrying screaming
babies, or dragging children too fright
ened to run, and now and then two or
three holding between them one too i'll to
stand. Ii was a terrible sight. whole
city flying for life, and girl alone, how
ever brave, might well be alarmed.
1t was only for a moment, however.
Grace thought Of her father, and plunged
into the street. The Office was not more
than half a mile, and her feet fairly flew
although everybody else was going the
other way, and she had to dodge between
people and horses and loads Of all sorts.
1t was well she had not far to go, for
the roof was just bursting into flame as
she opened the door with her fathers
keys. His desk easily yielded to the
peculiar key she knew so we'll, and among
letters and papers laid a package she
instinctively knew was the precious one,
III &c
place it looked there.
Grace seized it, and started out, care
fully locking the desk and putting the
keys in her pocket, when the thought
arose, 'sWhere could she hide the pack
age?"
You boys would say, in the inner breast
pocket of the vest. But there was no
vest, at any rate Grace had none, and in
ner pockets were an unknown my stery to
her. She thought an instant. then quiet
Iy slipped it down the back of her neck
inside the clothes. The waistband was
tight for her, and she felt sure it YVES
safe, and hastily ran into the street.
Things had changed greatly even in
these few minutes. The tall blocks on
both sides of the street were on fire,
big building at the corner had fallen
otLlO SuS uCl bucG WHlS bliS
air was full of smoke and cinders and
heat that nearly suffocated her. Instead
of the crowd she had seen il was deserted,
every one had fled for his life. Smother
ed, blinded, frightened, Grace turned to
run-alas! away from home.
It was the only way she could go. At
the first corner, she found found herself
no longer alone but one small atom of
moving mass of people. To turn the
other way would have been like trying to
stem a furious rushing river, and besides,
that way was thick smoke and fire. She
was carried with the crowd, bewildered,
lost. but even in that awful moment filled
wish Joy that she had her fathers papers
sgThe fire marched on with rapid strides,
driving before it the multitude OF home